AI and an “illusion of learning”

There’s been plenty of conversation lately about what AI could eventually mean for the world. But for parents, there’s a much more immediate question: What is it doing to the way our kids learn?

A new MIT report warns that overreliance on AI can weaken critical thinking and memory and create an “illusion of learning” — getting the answer without developing the skills behind it.

Teach your child a simple check: “Could I explain this without AI when I’m done?”

AI can be a great tool to help break down a big assignment, generate practice questions, or explain something in a different way. But if it’s doing the thinking, planning, or writing for them, that’s different.

The goal isn’t no AI. It’s not going away. The goal is knowing what to outsource and what not to.

Think of AI like training wheels: it can provide support while kids build their skills, but the goal is still to learn how to ride on their own.